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Atacama myotis
Conservation status
	; Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Vespertilionidae
Genus:	Myotis
Species:	M. atacamensis
Binomial name
	Myotis atacamensis; Lataste, 1892
Synonyms
	Myotis chiloensis atacamensis, Vespertilio atacamensis

The Atacama myotis (Myotis atacamensis) is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in Chile and Peru, an example ecoregion of occurrence being the Chilean matorral.^[2]

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1892 by French zoologist Fernand Lataste. The three samples that he had access to were all collected from the Atacama Desert, likely inspiring the species name.^[3] Several have classified the Atacama myotis as a subspecies of the Chilean myotis in 1943 and 1958.^[4]^[5] Lataste, however, thought that it differed greatly from the Chilean myotis because it is much smaller, it has a different skull shape, and its teeth are different.^[3] In 1973, it was again listed as a species, which has been maintained at present.^[6]^[7]

Description

It is one of the smallest Myotis species found in South America and Chile.^[8] They weigh 4–6 g (0.14–0.21 oz).^[9]^[10] It is similar in size to the recently discovered Myotis diminutus, but the two can be differentiated by their uropatagia. In the Atacama myotis, the dorsal side of the uropatagium is furred until halfway between the knee and ankle. In M. diminutus, the dorsal side of the uropatagium is almost naked.^[8] Their forearms are 31.3–39.5 mm (1.23–1.56 in) long.^[6]^[9] Their dorsal fur is soft and tricolored. The base of its hair is black.^[6]

Biology

It is insectivorous, capturing its prey during flight. It begins to forage one hour before dusk, and its foraging lasts about three hours.^[11] They are colonial, and form colonies of around 30 individuals.^[9] This is the only neotropical Myotis that hibernates.^[7]

Range and habitat

It is found in arid and semi-arid environments.^[12] In 2013, this species was discovered for the first time in the Choapa Province of Chile, which was the southernmost extent of their range documented.^[9] In 2014, the range was once again extended to the south when an individual was captured in La Campana National Park.^[9] Unlike the arid or semi-arid environments where this species has previously been documented, La Campana National Park has a Mediterranean climate. Based on the landscape where they are found, it is possible that they roost in rock crevices.^[12]^[13] They have been observed roosting under the roof of a house.^[9]

Conservation

The species' conservation status has changed in three consecutive evaluations by the IUCN. In 1996, it was classed as vulnerable. In 2008, it was classed as near threatened. In 2016, its classification was changed to endangered. Under the IUCN's current evaluation criteria, the Atacama myotis is endangered because its area of occupancy is estimated at less than 500 km² (190 sq mi), its habitat is severely fragmented, there is a projected decline in its area of occupancy, and there a projected decline in the quality of their habitat. Threats to this species include mining, urbanization, agriculture, and wind power.^[7]

References

^ Vargas-Rodríguez, R.; Peñaranda, D.; Ugarte Nuñez, J.; Rodríguez-San Pedro, A.; Ossa Gomez, G.; Gatica Castro, A. (2016). "Myotis atacamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14143A22050638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14143A22050638.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^ C. Michael Hogan & World Wildlife Fund. 2013. Chilean matorral. ed. M.McGinley. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment Archived November 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Washington DC
^ ^a ^b Lataste, F. 1892. Etudes sur la faune chilienne. II—Note sur les chauvesouris. Actes de la Société Scientifique du Chile 1: 70–91.
^ Osgood, W.H. 1943. The mammals of Chile. Field Museum of Natural History 30: 1–268 (doi: 10.5962/bhl.title.3842).
^ Cabrera, Á. (1958). ‘‘1957’’. Catálogo de los mamıferos de América del Sur [part 1]. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘‘Bernardino Rivadavia’’(Ciencias Zoológicas), 4, 1-307.
^ ^a ^b ^c LaVal, R. K. (1973). A revision of the Neotropical bats of the genus Myotis (No. 15). Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County.
^ ^a ^b ^c Vargas-Rodríguez, R.; Peñaranda, D.; Ugarte Nuñez, J.; Rodríguez-San Pedro, A.; Ossa Gomez, G. & Gatica Castro, A. (2016). "Myotis atacamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14143A22050638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T14143A22050638.en.
^ ^a ^b Moratelli, R., & Wilson, D. E. (2011). A new species of Myotis Kaup, 1829 (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Ecuador. Mammalian Biology - Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 76(5), 608-614.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Rodríguez-San Pedro, A., Allendes, J. L., Castillo, M. L., Peñaranda, D. A., & Peña-Gómez, F. T. (2014). Distribution extension and new record of Myotis atacamensis (Lataste, 1892)(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Chile. Check List, 10(5), 1164-1166.
^ Rodríguez-San Pedro, A., Peñaranda, D. A., Allendes, J. L., & Castillo, M. L. (2015). Update on the distribution of Myotis atacamensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): southernmost record and description of its echolocation calls. Chiroptera Neotropical, 21(2), 1342-1346.
^ Galaz, J.L., J. Yañez, A. Gantz and D.R. Martinez. 2009. Orden Chiroptera; pp. 67–89, in: A. Muñoz-Pedreros and J. Yañez (ed.). Mamiferos de Chile. Valdivia: CEA Ediciones
^ ^a ^b Iriarte, A. (2008). Mamíferos de Chile. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona, España, 220-221.
^ Mann, G. 1978. Los pequeños mamíferos de Chile. Gayana 40: 1–342.